Rotary latch with multiple engaging means



29, 1 w. A. ENDTER ,34

, ROTARY LATCH WITH MULTIPLE ENGAGING MEANS Original Filed Oct. 17, 1936J4 u w v I6 /A"0 INVENTOR.

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. flTTOR VEX Patented Feb. 29, 1944 ROTARY LATCH WITH MULTIPLE ENGAGINGMEANS Waldemar A. Endter, Long Beach, Calif.

Original application October 17, 1936, Serial No.

106,243. Divided and this application September 11, 1940, Serial No.356,27;

9 Claims. (01. 292- 14) This application is a division of my co-pendingapplication, Serial No. 106,243, filed October 17, 1936, which hasbecome Patent No. 2,224,512, dated December 10, 1940.

This invention relates to a rotary latch with multiple engaging meanswith the keeper.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel rotary latch of thecharacter stated, in which a number of engaging means engage differentsurfaces of a keeper, thereby effectively holding a closure in aplurality of directions.

Another object is to provide a novel rotary latch of the characterstated, in which a number of rotary bolts each engage different surfacesin a keeper, each of the rotary bolts being cammed in a latchingdirection when engaging the keeper.

A feature of my invention resides in the arrangement of a plurality ofspaced engaging means on the latch which engage spaced surfaces in thekeeper for the purpose of effectively holding the closure in a closedposition.

This invention also relates to a novel rotary latch in which the latchis provided with a stationary guiding surface, the keeper cooperatingwith the guiding surface and with the rotary latch bolt whereby thekeeper clamps the guiding surface and the bolt.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from theaccompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description, and theappended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a sectional View taken on line l-l of Figure 2, andillustrating my novel rotary latch.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a transverse, sectional view of a slightly modified form ofrotary latch and showing this latch in keeper engaging position.

My rotary latch is particularly applicable for vehicle hoods or decklatches, trunks or similar arrangements. This latch consists of a casei, which is secured to the door or closure. A guide plate 2 depends fromthe case I, and is preferably integrally formed with this case. A pairof multi-headed rotary bolts 3 and 4 are journaled on the guide plate 2adjacent the upper end thereof, and are preferably substantially inhorizontal alignment. The rotary bolts 3 and 4 are engaged by a cam dogand 6, respectively, each of these dogs being pivotally mounted on thecase l, the lower cam surfaces of these dogs engaging the bolts 3 and 4for the purpose of camming the bolts against the keeper, as will befurther described.

The dogs 5 and t are linked together so that they will simultaneouslyoperate by suitable means such as the inter-engaging teeth 1. One of thedogs is swung on its pivot by the manually operated finger 8, whichengages the dog substantially as shown, and in operating one dog theother is simultaneously releasing the bolts 3 and 3 and alsosimultaneously camming these bolts into engagement with the keeper.Suitable spring means 8 and iii engage the dogs 5 and 6, respectively,urging said dogs into engagement with the bolts 3 and s respectively.

The keeper H is provided with two inclined latching surfaces i2 and i3adjacent the upper end thereof. These latching surfaces are inclinedinwardly, and are engaged by the rotary bolts 3 and 4, substantially asshown. It will be evident that the spaced bolts 3 and 4 engagingdifferent latching surfaces simultaneously will edectively hold theclosure in latched position.

In Figure 3, I have shown a latch consisting of a case it, which isattached to the door or closure. A guide plate l5 depends from the caseM, and is preferably integrally formed with the case. A rotary bolt Itis journaled on the guide plate adjacent the top thereof, and isengagedby a cam dog H, which is pivotally mounted on the case M above the boltIt. The dog I1 is swung on its pivot and thus disengaged from themulti-headed bolt l6 by a, manually actuated finger E8. The usual springl9 engages the dog and urges the same into engagement with the bolt. Thekeeper 29 is provided with an inclined latching surface 2 l which isengaged by the bolt !6. The latching surface 2| is preferably inclinedinwardly, and is engaged by a head of the rotary bolt when the latch isin closed position,substantially as shown. A plain bearing surface 22 isprovided on the keeper and spaced from the. inclined surface M. Thisbearing surface 22 is engaged by an edge of the guide plate It: when theparts are in latched position. I thus provide a wedging action betweenthe rotary bolt l6 and the keeper 2! which will efiectively hold theclosure against movement when in latched position.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A latching mechanism for closures adapted to cooperate with a keeperhaving inclined surfaces, comprising a plurality of multi-headed rotarybolts mounted on the closure, dogging means engaging the heads of eachof the rotary bolts, said bolts being capable of further rotation inlatching direction when in partly latched position by said doggingmeans, each of said surfaces being engageable by a multi-headed rotarymembers adapted to engage said keeper portions as said interengagingmembers are brought into cooperative relation, and dogging means foreach rotary bolt and engaging one head on each of said bolts andincluding means causing said bolts to be constantly urged in latchingdirection when in partly latched position.

3. A latching mechanism for closures comprising cooperativeinterengaging members, opposed inclined keeper portions on one of saidmembers, multi-headed rotary bolts carried by the other of said membersadapted to engage said keeper portions as said interengaging members arebrought into cooperative relation, and dogging means for each rotarybolt and engaging one head on each of said bolts and including meanscausing said bolts to be constantly urged in latching direction when inpartly latched position.

4. A latching mechanism for closures comprising cooperativ interengagingmembers, opposed inclined keeper portions on one of said members,opposed multi-headed rotary bolts carried by the other of said membersadapted to engage said keeper portions as said interengaging members arebrought into cooperative relation, and dogging means for each rotarybolt and engaging one head on each of said bolts and including meanscausing said bolts to be constantly urged in latching direction when inpartly latched position, said opposed bolts by their cooperation causingsaid interengaging members to be maintained in centered relation to eachother due to the urging action of said dogging means.

5. A latching mechanism for association with a closure adapted tocooperate with a keeper member having a pair of spaced abutments, thecombination of a pair of rotatable bolts adapted to be disposed betweensaid abutments when the closure is closed, said bolts having a pluralityof heads any one of which are engageable with corresponding abutmentswhereby the closur is held in closed position, and dogging means actingon the bolts with a camming action so as to cause the bolts to rotateagainst the abutments.

6. A latching mechanism for association with a closure adapted tocooperate with a keeper member having a pair of spaced abutments,comprising a plurality of rotary bolts adapted to be disposed betweensaid abutments when the closure is moved to closed position and tocooperate with said abutments, dogging means for each of said rotarybolts and including means exerting a camming action on the rotatablebolts for the purpose of urging the bolts tightly against the abutments,said bolts bein disposed in opposed relation when in engaged position,and means to concurrently retract said dogging means.

7. A latching mechanism for association with a closure adapted tocooperate with a keeper member having a pair of spaced inclinedabutments, comprising a plurality of rotary bolts adapted to be disposedbetween said abutments when the closure is moved to closed position andto cooperate with said inclined abutments, dogging means for each ofsaid rotary bolts and including means exerting a camming action on therotatable bolts for the purpose of urging the bolts tightly against theabutments, said bolts being disposed in opposed relation when in engagedposition, means interconnecting said dogging means, and means operativeto cause retraction of said dogging means to release said bolts forretrograde free movement to release the closure.

8. Latching mechanism for a pair of members comprising a plateprojecting from one of said members adapted to extend into a keeperhaving a pair of opposed inclined abutment surfaces directed toward saidplate, a pair of multi-headed rotary bolts mounted for free rotation atopposite edges of said plate and each adapted to have any of its headsengage one of said abutment surfaces, and dogging means for each of saidrotary bolts including means adapted to engage said bolts with a cammingaction so as to cause the bolts to rotate in latching direction when the.closure is partly closed.

9. Latching mechanism for a pair of members comprising a plateprojecting from one of said members adapted to extend into a keeperhaving a pair of opposed inclined abutment surfaces directed toward saidplate, a pair of multi-headed rotary bolts mounted for free rotation atopposite edges of said plate and each adapted to have any of its headsengage one of said abutment surfaces, dogging means for each of saidrotary bolts including means adapted to engage said bolts with a cammingaction so as to cause the bolts to rotate in latching direction when theclosure is partly closed, means interconnecting said dogging means, andmeans adapted to move one of said dogging means to retracted positionthereby releasing said bolts for free rotation as the plate is removedfrom said keeper thereby releasing said closure.

WALDEMAR A. ENDTER.

